OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of Endobutton device in the treatment of tibiofibular diastasis without ankle fracture.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to January 2011, a total of 8 patients with tibiofibular diastasis without ankle fracture were treated with Endobutton device. There were 6 males and 2 females with an average age of 34 years (ranged, 25 to 44 years). All the patients with ankle injured history and ankle pain, swelling, ecchy-mosis were diagnosed by radiology and then operated with Endobutton device. The clinical effects were evaluated according to Baird-Jackson scoring system and radiological evaluated parameters comprised of tibiofibular overlap,total clear space and medial clear space.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months,with an average of 12 months. Radiographic results were detailed as follows: tibiofibular overlap averaged (3.83 +/- 0.37) mm in preoperative and (7.46 +/- 0.14) mm in postoperative; mean total clear space (7.90 +/- 0.22) mm in preoperative and (3.39 +/- 0.07) mm in postoperative; medial clear space averaged (5.08 +/- 0.34) mm in preoperative and (3.16 +/- 0.07) mm in postoperative. There was significant difference above data between preoperative and postoperative one. The lastest Baird-Jackson score results: 6 cases obtained an excellent result, 1 good and 1 fair. The main score was (94.63 +/- 3.66).

CONCLUSIONEndobutton device for the treatment of tibiofibular diastasis without ankle fracture has advantages such as simple and minimally invasive, no need of second operation for implant removal, recover the ankle function better and less complications, which should be popularized and applied to clinical widely.